Method for processing connection request for a disk player

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for connecting a media player to a content server are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes determining whether a connection to a content server is required; searching control information to identity whether the connection to the content server is permitted, the control information including connection limitation information associated with a connectable content server, the connection limitation information including address of the connectable content server; and controlling the connection to the content server in response to the connection limitation information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/670,973 filed Sep. 25, 2003, which is incorporated by reference. Further,pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit ofearlier filing date and right of Korean Patent Application No.10-2003-14164, filed on Mar. 6, 2003, the content of which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for setting a playbackenvironment for reproducing audio/video (A/V) data in an interactive orenhanced recording medium, such as an interactive digital versatile disk(also known as I-DVD or Enhanced Digital Versatile Disk (ENAV)), alongwith additional contents associated with the A/V data. of permanentlyrecording and storing not only high-quality digital audio data, but alsohigh-quality moving picture data.

A DVD includes a data stream recording area for recording a digital datastream, such as moving picture data and a navigation data recording areafor recording navigation data needed for controlling playback of themoving picture data. A typical DVD player first reads thenavigation-data recorded on the navigation data recording area, if theDVD is seated in the player, stores the read navigation data in a memoryprovided in the player, and reproduces the moving picture data recordedon the data stream recording area using the navigation data.

The DVD player reproduces the moving picture data recorded on the DVD,such that a user can view and hear a movie recorded on the DVD.Information (control or additional information) associated with theplayback of audio/video (A/V) data recorded on the DVD can be recordedas a file written in a hypertext markup language (HTML) on the DVD.Standardization work of an interactive digital versatile disk (I-DVD) isongoing. The A/V data recorded on the I-DVD is reproduced according tothe user's interactive request. Where I-DVDs are commercialized, thesupply of contents through digital recording mediums will be moreprevalent.

A method is being developed for seamlessly and continuously reproducingA/V data in an I-DVD, at the time of a synchronous playback operationfor the A/V data and additional contents, i.e., ENAV data, associatedwith the A/V data recorded on the DVD. Various playback environmentsmust be set before the data of the disk is reproduced so that the A/Vdata and the ENAV data on the disk can be seamlessly reproduced andoutputted under limited resources of the player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method for connecting amedia player to a remote server comprises processing a request forconnecting to an remote server while reproducing data recorded on anenhanced navigation medium; processing connection information recordedon the enhanced navigation medium to determine whether connection to theremote server is permitted; and requesting connection to the remoteserver, if connection to the remote server is permitted in accordancewith the connection information.

The connection information is recorded in a start-up file that is readprior to reproduction of the data recorded on the enhanced navigationmedium. The start-up file comprises information associated with a listof additional contents to be loaded before the data on the enhancednavigation medium is reproduced. The start-up file comprises informationassociated with a right to reproduce the data recorded on the enhancednavigation medium.

In some embodiments, the start-up file comprises information associatedwith a region code, a language of the additional contents, memorymanagement, and a file to be processed after the start-up file isprocessed. The connection information comprises a list of servers towhich the media player may connect or alternatively a list of servers towhich the media player may not connect.

The data recorded on the enhanced navigation medium comprisesaudio/video (A/V) data. The data recorded on the enhanced navigationmedium comprises additional contents associated with the A/V data, insome embodiments, for example. The A/V data and the additional contentsare reproduced in synchronization.

The connection information comprises at least one connection address forconnecting to the remote server. The start-up file comprises theconnection information, wherein the start-up file comprises informationassociated with a walled-garden file comprising location informationabout at least one server.

The walled-garden file comprises information about at least one serverto which the media player may connect to retrieve additional contentsassociated with the data recorded on the enhanced navigation medium. Inone embodiment, the walled-garden file comprises information about atleast one server to which the media player may not connect to retrieveadditional contents associated with the data recorded on the enhancednavigation medium.

The walled-garden file comprises at least one entry associated withloading information that controls access to information available on theat least one server. The loading information comprises at least acondition for loading information available on the at least one server,and at least one of a language or a profile supported by the mediaplayer.

In one or more embodiments, a method for processing a connection requestof an enhanced navigation media player comprises determining a currentoperating mode and connection limitation information, in response to aconnection request for connecting the player to a remote server; andsubmitting the request to the remote server to establish a connection,based on the current operating mode and the connection limitationinformation.

The connection request is submitted, if the current operating mode is anenhanced navigation playback mode. Also, the connection request issubmitted, if the connection limitation information provides permissionfor the remote server to be contacted. That is, the connection requestis submitted, if the current operating mode is an interactive diskplayback mode and if the connection limitation information indicatesthat the remote server may be contacted.

In certain embodiments, the connection limitation information isincluded in a start-up file residing on an enhanced navigation medium.The start-up file is read prior to the player reproducing data recordedon the enhanced navigation medium. The start-up file comprisesinformation associated with a list of additional contents to be loadedbefore data recorded on the enhanced navigation medium is reproduced.

In accordance with another embodiment, an enhanced navigation mediaplayer for processing data recorded on a recording medium is provided.The player comprises an audio/video (A/V) player engine; and an enhancenavigation (ENAV) engine, wherein if the recording medium is not anenhance navigation medium then A/V data recorded on the recording mediumis reproduced by the A/V player engine, and wherein if the recordingmedium is an enhanced navigation medium, then a start-up file is loadedinto a first memory so that the ENAV engine can extract connectioninformation about at least one server with additional contents.

In one or more embodiments, the start-up file comprises informationassociated with a walled-garden list that provides the connectioninformation about the at least one server. The start-up file may alsocomprise loading information that controls access to the additionalcontents available on the at least one server. The loading informationcomprises at least a condition for loading the additional contentsavailable on the at least one server, a language condition to limitaccess to the additional contents available on the at least one serverbased on the language condition, a profile condition to limit access tothe additional contents available on the at least one server based onthe profile condition, and parental condition to limit access to theadditional contents available on the at least one server based on theparental condition.

In some embodiments, an enhanced navigation recording medium comprisesaudio/video (A/V) data; and connection information for controllingaccess to additional contents available through at least one remoteserver, wherein the additional contents is reproduced in synchronizationwith the A/V data. The connection information comprises at least acondition for loading the additional contents available on the at leastone server and a language condition to limit access to the additionalcontents available on the at least one server based on the languagecondition.

A profile condition to limit access to the additional contents availableon the at least one server based on the profile condition, and parentalcondition to limit access to the additional contents available on the atleast one server based on the parental condition, may be also included.In one embodiment, the connection information limits access to the atleast one remote server or permits access to the at least one remoteserver.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, a method of playing backaudio/video (A/V) data recorded on an enhanced navigation mediumcomprises identifying a playback mode; decoding a start-up file recordedon the enhanced navigation medium, if the playback mode identifies anenhanced navigation mode, wherein the start-up file comprises first ansecond information; decoding the first information to determine locationof at least one remote server that provides access to additionalcontents to be played back in synchronization with the A/V data; anddecoding the second information to determine at least one conditionassociated with the additional contents.

In one embodiment, a first enhanced navigation application is launchedbased on the decoded first and second information. The secondinformation comprises at least one of a profile, language, and parentalcondition for loading the additional contents, for example.

These and other embodiments of the present invention will also becomereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of the embodiments having reference to the attached figures,the invention not being limited to any particular embodiments disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an optical disk device to which a methodfor setting a playback environment of an interactive disk, in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention, is applied;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a directory structure of aninteractive digital versatile disk (I-DVD) in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for setting the playbackenvironment of the interactive disk, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe invention.

Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced bythe same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent,or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention, an optical disk device comprises an optical pickup 11 thatreads a signal recorded on an enhanced navigation recording medium suchas an interactive digital versatile disk (I-DVD) 10. A signal processor12 processes a read radio frequency (RF) signal and recovers digitaldata. A memory unit 13 stores the recovered data and externally receiveddata. A DVD engine 14 decodes the data stored in the memory unit 13. AniDVD engine 15 interprets an information file stored in the memory unit13, and processes certain additional contents (i.e., ENAV data).

A synthesizer 18 synthesizes and outputs an A/V signal from the DVDengine 14 and another A/V signal from the iDVD engine 15. A networkinterface 17 performs a network connection function and a web browserfunction. A control unit 16 sets a playback environment of the I-DVD 10and controls the above-described components so that data of the I-DVD 10can be reproduced along with the additional contents, under the setplayback environment.

An exemplary directory structure of the I-DVD 10 is shown in FIG. 2. Anadditional contents directory “DVD_ENAV” 203 is arranged under a rootdirectory and comprises a start-up file “StartUp.mls” 204, for example.The start-up files comprises information about the system environmentsettings. In some embodiments, the environment is set before data of theI-DVD is reproduced.

An information file “EnDVD.Inf”, for example, for reproducing A/V datarecorded on the I-DVD, an initial screen setup file “index.html”, forexample, for playback, and synchronization file “index.syn”, forexample, for the synchronization between data items of differentattributes may be part of the start-up file or settings. The directory“DVD_ENAV” 203 may further comprise a fonts directory 206 storing fontfiles for outputting a text of the additional contents.

In some embodiments, an additional contents directory 207 comprising theadditional contents for providing additional A/V contents (i.e., ENAVdata files 208, html files, image files, sound files, etc.) may bepresent. The additional contents directory 207 can comprise additionalcontents (for example, e.g., subdirectories 209), on the basis of ahierarchical structure, for example.

A video title set directory “Video TS” 201, for example, comprisingvideo data and an audio title set directory “Audio_TS” 202, for example,comprising audio data is arranged under the root directory, in someembodiments. An item of disk version information associated with theI-DVD and an item of contents manufacturer information are recorded in,for example, the “EnDvd.inf” file of the directory 203. Further,uniformed resource identifier (URI) information associated with acontents provider's server for providing, through a communicationnetwork, the additional contents information relating to A/V data to beread and reproduced from the I-DVD can be recorded in the directory 203.

Items of setup information for the initial screen setting at the time ofreproducing the data of the interactive DVD can be recorded in the setupfile “index.html” of the directory 203. Items of time stamp informationfor performing the synchronization between the A/V data and ENAV data tobe read and reproduced from the I-DVD are recorded in thesynchronization file “index.syn”.

Before the A/V data of the I-DVD is reproduced, various informationitems for system environment setting are recorded in the start-up file“StartUp.mls”, for example. The various information items may compriseinformation about contents to be loaded in a memory before the playback,location information of a source for providing the contents information,a parental ID indicating a right to access the recorded A/V data, thelanguage of the additional contents, a website connection during theplayback, memory management information, a file to be processed afterthe start-up file is processed, and a version of the start-up file.

Referring to FIG. 3, a method for reproducing the data of the I-DVD 10is provided. If a disk is inserted and seated within the player shown inFIG. 1, at step S1, then the control unit 16 searches for a“StartUp.mls” or “EnDVD.Inf” file from a “DVD_ENAV” directory, forexample. If a corresponding file is found, the seated disk is detectedas an I-DVD, at step S10. Otherwise, the seated disk is detected as ageneral DVD.

If the seated disk is a general DVD, the control unit 16 performs aplayback operation in a general DVD mode in response to a user request,at step S30. If the playback operation is completed, procedure ends. Inthe playback operation of the DVD mode, data reproduced from the disk isprocessed through the DVD engine 14 and the processed data is outputtedas a video and audio signal.

On the other hand, if the seated disk is an I-DVD 10, it is determinedwhether data of the I-DVD is to be reproduced in an enhanced mode, atstep S11. The enhanced mode is a synchronous playback mode for theadditional data (i.e., ENAV data). The enhanced mode can be turnedON/OFF by the user. The initial setting corresponds to an ON state, inone embodiment. If the enhanced mode is in an OFF state, theabove-described general DVD playback operation is performed at the abovestep S30, even if the seated disk is an I-DVD.

In certain embodiments, if the enhanced mode is in an ON state, thestart-up file “StartUp.mls”, for example, arranged under the “DVD_ENAV”directory is read, at step S12. The start-up file is stored in thememory unit 13, and the iDVD engine 15 is requested to interpret thestart-up file. In one embodiment, the iDVD engine 15 interprets thestart-up file “StartUp.mls” stored in the memory unit 13, and confirms aparental ID for authorization to reproduce data of the I-DVD at stepS13. The iDVD engine then sets a system state, at step S14.

Information of the system state comprises information associated with alanguage to be used at a time of processing the ENAV data, websiteconnection limitation (i.e., walled garden list), memory management,loading information, etc. For example, the system state can be definedas: <conf type=language con=euc-kr><wgarden>http://www.warner.com</wgarden> <memset> <pload>36</pload></memset>

In this exemplary embodiment, The tag “<conf type>”, for example,designates the Korean language as the used language. A tag “<wgarden>”,for example, designates the website connection limitation or the walledgarden list. The tag “<wgarden>”, for example, indicates thatconnections to web sites other than “http://www.warner.com”, forexample, are not allowed. In conjunction with the memory setting, a tag“<pload>”, for example, designates a memory space to be occupied. Thetag “<pload>” indicates that a memory space of 36 Mbytes in the memoryis occupied, in one or more embodiments. The loading information, forexample defines a list of URIs to be preloaded into a memory space andcan also provide and ENAV buffer configuration.

The website connection limitation information (i.e., the walled gardenlist”) can comprise a plurality of website addresses. The websiteconnection limitation information is provided to the network interface17. Then, while the data of the I-DVD is reproduced, the websiteconnection limitation information can be referred to by the user at atime of surfing the web, for example.

In certain embodiments, the walled garden list includes informationabout websites that can be accessed during the I-DVD playback. In otherembodiments, the walled garden list includes information about websitesthat cannot be accessed during the I-DVD playback. Other implementationsare also possible, where a combination of access permission orrestrictions may be granted, according the content of the walled gardenlist.

The iDVD engine 15 confirms a version of a preloading list from thestart-up file, and transmits the confirmed version information to aspecified server through the network interface 17, at step S15. Locationinformation of the specified server can be confirmed from informationdesignated in the tag “<wgarden>”, for example, or from URL informationrecorded in the “EnDvd.inf” file. A corresponding server receiving theversion information transmits the preloading list of a latest version tothe player, if the latest version higher than the received versionexists in the server. In one embodiment, if the latest version higherthan the received version does not exist, the corresponding servernotifies the player that the received version is the latest version.

If the preloading list is downloaded, the memory unit 13 receives andstores the downloaded list. The downloaded list is used as preloadinginformation. If the preloading list is not downloaded, the preloadinglist contained in the start-up file is used as the preloadinginformation, at step S16. Contents recorded in the preloading list andcertain ENAV data (e.g., html files, image files, sound files, textfiles, etc.) is stored in the memory space designated by theabove-described tag “<pload>”.

The preloading list can be defined in the following formats, in one ormore embodiments. Files to be preloaded can vary according to a level ofa right to reproduce the data of the DVD as described below or accordingto a region code. <preload> <unit no=”1”> <DATA name=”aaa” able=”TRUE”><INDEX>2th</INDEX> <TYPE>doc</TYPE><src t_ID=”5” t_lang=”all”>http://www.disney.com/a/b.htm</src><src t_ID=”1” t_lang=”all”>http://www.disney.com/a/c.htm</src> </DATA>... </unit> ... </preload>

In the above example, “unit” means a section in which the ENAV data isseamlessly reproduced along with the A/V data linked to the ENAV data.All A/V data items recorded on the I-DVD (i.e., titles) can beconfigured by one or more applications. One application can be linked toone ENAV unit. An additional contents item to be preloaded for each unit(i.e., an ENAV data item) is defined by a tag “<DATA>” contained in theunit. In the above example, if a playback level (parental ID) isconfirmed from the start-up file (i.e., t_ID, is “5”) then a file ofhttp://www.disney.com/a/b.htm, for example, is loaded in the memory unit13.

If a playback level (parental ID) is confirmed from the start-up file(i.e., t_ID, is “1”), then a file of http://www.disney.com/a/c.htm, forexample, is loaded in the memory unit 13. The file to be preloaded canbe in a remote web site, according to the above-described example, butthe file also can be designated as a file recorded in the specifieddirectory of the seated disk. In some embodiments, data files forpresentation of “html” files (e.g., image files), sound files, or bannerfiles) are designated under a subsequent tag “<DATA>”, for example. **

Thus, items designated in each tag “<DATA>” are, for example, read fromthe seated disk or received from a remote server. The read or receiveditems are sequentially stored in the memory unit 13, in one embodiment.If all files designated within the unit “<unit>”, for example, for oneapplication have been stored, a preloading operation is completed, atstep S17. If size of files designated within the one unit exceeds, forexample, 36 Mbytes described above, the preloading operation isterminated, even if the preloading operation for another unit is notcompleted.

In one embodiment, the iDVD engine 15 confirms, from the start-up file,a file (e.g., a setup file “index.html”) designated to be performedafter the start-up file is performed. The iDVD engine 15 requests thecontrol unit 16 to read the confirmed file from the I-DVD 10. If thesetup file is loaded in the memory unit 13 in response to the request,the iDVD engine 15 interprets the file at step S18, and configures andoutputs an initial screen by the user's selection.

If the user selects “playback start” from the initial screen, thecontrol unit 16 requests the iDVD engine 15 to notify it of a confirmedplayback right level. The control unit 16 compares the playback rightlevel received from the iDVD engine 15 with a playback right level setin the player. If the playback right level set in the player is lowerthan the playback right level confirmed from the start-up file, thecontrol unit 16 does not perform the requested playback, and configuresand outputs a message indicating that the requested playback cannot beperformed.

In one embodiment, if the playback right level set in the player is notlower than the playback right level confirmed from the start-up file,the control unit 16 begins to reproduce the data of the seated I-DVD 10.A region code set in the player is compared with a region code confirmedfrom the start-up file. If the region code set in the player isdifferent from the region code confirmed from the start-up file, theplayback operation is not performed. Otherwise, the playback operationcan be performed.

If the playback operation is initiated, the control unit 16 buffersrecorded A/V data in the memory unit 13 while driving the seated I-DVD10. The buffered A/V data is decoded by the DVD engine 14 so that an A/Vsignal can be outputted. During this operation, the iDVD engine 15 readsthe ENAV data preloaded in the memory unit 13, and performs a decodingoperation to output an A/V signal. The A/V signal from the iDVD engine15 is synthesized with an output signal from the DVD engine 14 by thesynthesizer 18. The synthesized signals are outputted externally, atstep S19.

In some embodiments, the iDVD engine 15 refers to synchronizationinformation (e.g., linkage information between each file name and time)recorded in a synchronization file “index.syn” to synchronize filesconfiguring the ENAV data with A/V data being reproduced from the I-DVD10. When a latest version list associated with a preloading listdesignated in a start-up file “StartUp.mls” recorded on the I-DVD 10 isreceived from a remote server, a synchronization file “index.syn” isalso received. The received synchronization file “index.syn” can be usedin place of a synchronization file “index.syn” recorded in the I-DVD 10.

If ENAV data units for a current application preloaded in the memoryunit 13 have been outputted, at step S20, the iDVD engine 15 notifiesthe control unit 16 that some or all of the ENAV data units have beenoutputted. In response to the notification, the control unit 16 stopsthe operation of the DVD engine 14. Then, the iDVD engine 15 refers tothe above-described interpreted preloading list information, andpreloads ENAV data, such as the ENAV units of a next application, in thememory unit 13.

When a file to be preloaded matches a file preloaded in the memory unit13, for example, a corresponding file is not newly loaded. That is, thecorresponding file is not read from the I-DVD 10 or not received from anexternal server. Data of a previous file stored in the memory unit 13 isused, at step S21, in one embodiment. The exclusion of a loadingoperation repeat can reduce a preloading time. If the ENAV data of nextunits has been loaded, then the control unit 16 is notified that theENAV data has been completely loaded, and the playback operation isinitiated from a point when it has been stopped.

The A/V data recorded on the disk and additional contents (ENAV data)associated with the A/V data are synchronized with each other andseamlessly outputted in a synchronized state. The above-describedoperation is continuously performed until the I-DVD playback iscompleted or a playback stop request is received from the user, at stepS26.

If the user makes a specified website connection request, at step S23 ina synchronous playback or non-playback state, the control unit 16provides input information to the network interface 17 and requests thenetwork interface 17 to perform a specified website connection. Then,the network interface 17 determines whether a website address for thespecified website connection is contained in previously received websiteconnection limitation information, at step S24. If so, the networkinterface 17 sends a connection request with a received address, andreceives a corresponding web page to store the received web page in thememory unit 13, at step S25. The iDVD engine 15 interprets the storedweb page, and then a video signal is outputted on the basis of theinterpreted web page.

If a website address for the specified website connection is notcontained in previously received website connection limitationinformation, the network interface 17 confirms a current operating modethrough the control unit 16. If the current operating mode is in thenon-playback state or a general DVD playback state, then an operation isperformed as in the case where the website address for the specifiedwebsite connection is contained in the previously received websiteconnection limitation information.

If the current operating mode is in an I-DVD playback state, theconnection to the web site based on the request is not performed. Atthis time, the control unit 16 outputs a message indicating that theconnection to the website based on the request cannot be performed inthe I-DVD playback state.

In some embodiments, this website connection limitation information isset in the start-up file “StartUp.mls” by a manufacturer of the I-DVDsuch that a time delay or the memory's load caused by a certain websiteconnection can be prevented in the I-DVD playback state.

Embodiments of the invention are described by way of example asapplicable to systems and corresponding methods that provide a methodfor processing a connection request of a disk player. In this exemplaryembodiment, logic code for performing these methods is implemented inthe form of, for example, application software. The logic code, in oneembodiment, may be comprised of one or more modules that execute on oneor more processors in a distributed or non-distributed communicationmodel.

It should also be understood that the programs, modules, processes,methods, and the like, described herein are but an exemplaryimplementation and are not related, or limited, to any particularcomputer, apparatus, or computer programming language. Rather, varioustypes of general-purpose computing machines or devices may be used withlogic code implemented in accordance with the teachings provided,herein. Further, the order in which the steps of the present method areperformed is purely illustrative in nature. In fact, the steps can beperformed in any order or in parallel, unless indicated otherwise by thepresent disclosure.

The method of the present invention may be performed in either hardware,software, or any combination thereof, as those terms are currently knownin the art. In particular, the present method may be carried out bysoftware, firmware, or macrocode operating on a computer or computers ofany type. Additionally, software embodying the present invention maycomprise computer instructions and stored on a recording medium of anyform (e.g., ROM, RAM, magnetic media, punched tape or card, compact disk(CD), DVD, etc.). Furthermore, such software may also be transmitted inthe form of a computer signal embodied in a carrier wave, or accessiblethrough web pages provided on computers networks such as the Internet,for example. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to anyparticular platform, unless specifically stated otherwise in the presentdisclosure.

The present invention has been described above with reference topreferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognizethat changes and modifications may be made in these preferredembodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.The embodiments described above are to be considered in all aspects asillustrative only and not restrictive in any manner. Thus, otherexemplary embodiments, system architectures, platforms, andimplementations that can support various aspects of the invention may beutilized without departing from the essential characteristics describedherein. These and various other adaptations and combinations of featuresof the embodiments disclosed are within the scope of the invention. Theinvention is defined by the claims and their full scope of equivalents.various other adaptations and combinations of features of theembodiments disclosed are within the scope of the invention. Theinvention is defined by the claims and their full scope of equivalents.

1. A method for connecting a media player to a content server,comprising: determining whether a connection to a content server isrequired; searching control information to identity whether theconnection to the content server is permitted, the control informationincluding connection limitation information associated with aconnectable content server, the connection limitation informationincluding address of the connectable content server; and controlling theconnection to the content server in response to the connectionlimitation information.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thecontrolling step includes steps of establishing the connection to thecontent server by using the address if the connection limitationinformation includes the requested content server, and not permittingthe connection to the content server if the connection limitationinformation does not include the requested content server.
 3. The methodof claim 2, further comprising: checking if an enhanced storage mediumis a playback status; and establishing the connection to the contentserver by using the address if the enhanced storage medium is notplayback status and if the connection to the content server ispermitted, while not permitting the connection to the content server ifthe enhanced storage medium is the playback status or if the connectionto the content server is not permitted.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the connection limitation information is stored in a start-upfile that is read prior to playback of a main data recorded on anenhanced storage medium, and wherein the start-up file comprisesinformation associated with additional contents to be loaded before themain data of the enhanced storage medium is reproduced, furthercomprising: storing files of additional contents associated with atleast one application prior to the playback of the main data recorded inthe enhanced storage medium.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theconnection limitation information comprises a list of content servers towhich the media player may or may not connect, wherein the controllingstep controls the connection to the content server depending on the listof content servers.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the connectionlimitation information comprises at least one content server ID to whichthe media player may or may not connect to retrieve additional contentsassociated with a main data recorded on the enhanced storage medium,wherein the controlling step controls the connection to the contentserver depending on the content server ID.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the connection limitation information comprises at least oneentry associated with loading information that controls access toinformation available on the at least one content server, wherein thecontrolling step controls the connection to the content server dependingon the entry.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the loading informationcomprises at least a condition for loading information available on theat least one content server.
 9. A method for processing a connectionrequest of an enhanced storage media player, comprising: determining acurrent operating mode and connection condition, in response to aconnection request for connecting the player to a content server, theconnection condition being determined depending on a connectionlimitation information stored in an enhanced storage medium or a datastorage different from the enhanced storage medium, the connectionlimitation information being associated with a connectable contentserver and including address of the connectable content server; andcontrolling the connection to the content server, based on the currentoperating mode and the connection condition.
 10. The method of claim 9,wherein the controlling step establishes the connection by using theaddress if the current operating mode is not an enhanced playback modeand if the connection limitation information provides permission for thecontent server to be contacted.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein thecontrolling step does not establishes the connection if the currentoperating mode is an enhanced playback mode or if the connectionlimitation information doest not provide permission for the contentserver to be contacted
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the connectionlimitation information is included in a start-up file residing on theenhanced storage medium, the start-up file being required to establish asystem environment, further comprising: reading the start-up file fromthe enhanced storage medium prior to reproducing a main data recorded onthe enhanced storage medium.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein thestart-up file comprises information associated with additional contentsto be loaded before the main data recorded in the enhanced storagemedium is reproduced, further comprising: storing files of additionalcontents associated with at least one application prior to the playbackof the main data recorded in the enhanced storage medium.
 14. The methodof claim 12, wherein the information comprises a system environmentinformation, further comprising: setting a system environment of themedia player required by the system environment information.
 15. Anapparatus for connecting a media player to a content server, comprising:a network manager adapted to connect to a content server; and acontroller, coupled to the network manager, for determining whether aconnection to a content server is required, searching controlinformation to identity whether the connection to the content server ispermitted, the control information including connection limitationinformation associated with a connectable content server, the connectionlimitation information including address of the connectable contentserver, and controlling the connection to the content server through thenetwork manager in response to the connection limitation information.16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller establishes theconnection to the content server by using the address if the connectionlimitation information includes the requested content server, while notpermit the connection to the content server if the connection limitationinformation does not include the requested content server.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller further checks if anenhanced storage medium is a playback status, and establishes theconnection to the content server by using the address through thenetwork manager if the enhanced storage medium is not playback statusand if the connection to the content server is permitted, while notpermit the connection to the content server if the enhanced storagemedium is the playback status or if the connection to the content serveris not permitted.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the connectionlimitation information is included in a start-up file that is read priorto playback of a main data recorded on the enhanced storage medium, andthe start-up file comprises information associated with additionalcontents to be loaded before the main data of the enhanced storagemedium is reproduced, further comprising: a data storage for storingfiles of additional contents associated with at least one applicationprior to the playback of the main data recorded in the enhanced storagemedium.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the connection limitationinformation comprises a list of content servers to which the mediaplayer may or may not connect, wherein the controller controls theconnection to the content server depending on the list of contentservers.
 20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the connectionlimitation information comprises at least one content server ID to whichthe media player may or may not connect to retrieve additional contentsassociated with a main data recorded on the enhanced storage medium,wherein the controller controls the connection to the content serverdepending on the content server ID.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20,wherein the connection limitation information comprises at least oneentry associated with loading information that controls access toinformation available on the at least one content server, wherein thecontroller controls the connection to the content server depending onthe entry.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the loadinginformation comprises at least a condition for loading informationavailable on the at least one content server.